Normocytic anemia is a common issue that occurs for men and women typically over 85 years old. Its prevalence increases with age, reaching 44 percent in men older than 85 years. Normocytic anemia is the most frequently encountered type of anemia.

Classification

A normocytic anemia is defined as an anemia with an MCV

Mean corpuscular volume

The mean corpuscular volume, or "mean cell volume" , is a measure of the average red blood cell size that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count....

 of 80-100.

Causes

The issue is thought of as representing any of the following:

• a decreased production of normal-sized red blood cells (e.g., anemia of chronic disease, aplastic anemia
  Aplastic anemia
  Aplastic anemia is a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. The condition, per its name, involves both aplasia and anemia...
  
  );
• an increased destruction or loss of red blood cells (e.g., hemolysis, posthemorrhagic anemia);
• an uncompensated increase in plasma
  Blood plasma
  Blood plasma is the straw-colored liquid component of blood in which the blood cells in whole blood are normally suspended. It makes up about 55% of the total blood volume. It is the intravascular fluid part of extracellular fluid...
  
   volume (e.g., pregnancy
  Pregnancy
  Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
  
  , fluid overload);
• a B2 (riboflavin
  Riboflavin
  Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2 or additive E101, is an easily absorbed micronutrient with a key role in maintaining health in humans and animals. It is the central component of the cofactors FAD and FMN, and is therefore required by all flavoproteins. As such, vitamin B2 is required for a...
  
  ) deficiency
• a B6 (pyridoxine
  Pyridoxine
  Pyridoxine is one of the compounds that can be called vitamin B6, along with pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. It differs from pyridoxamine by the substituent at the '4' position. It is often used as 'pyridoxine hydrochloride'.-Chemistry:...
  
  ) deficiency
• or a mixture of conditions producing microcytic
  Microcytic anemia
  Microcytic anemia is a generic term for any type of anemia characterized by small red blood cells. The normal mean corpuscular volume is 76-100 fL, with smaller cells as macrocytic....
  
   and macrocytic anemia.

External links

Normocytic Anemia http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001115/2264ph.html

Normocytic Anemia | American Family Physician http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_/ai_67164191